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A Royal Gift, Carl Fabergé, 1896-1908

Gold, enamel and gem-set

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a rectangular photograph frame decorated with vivid green translucent enamel over a sunburst guillochage emanating from a central oval aperture surrounded by seed pearls, the border decorated with bands of striped white enamel with trained multi-coloured gold foliage and flowers wrapped around them, the cross overs bound with gold ribbons, the terminals mounted with cabochon rubies in scalloped gold cradles, the back plate carved from a single piece of mother-of-pearl with a scrolling silver strut.

Chief Workmaster: Johann Viktor Aarne.
St Petersburg, 1896-1908.

Height: 4.9cm

Provenance

Given by Queen Alexandra to her Maid of Honour, The Hon. Violet Vivian.
Thence by decent.

For a photograph of Violet Vivian from the Royal Collection,
please click here.

Illustrated

A similar frame by Aarne was purchased by Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna as a Christmas gift on 25th December, 1900 for 130 roubles. It now forms part of the Royal Collection (RCIN 40231) and contains a photograph of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, who was the eldest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.